Shillong, Oct 13: A Training programme on the role of media in Disaster Management was held on Saturday at Pinewood Hotel, Shillong. The programme was organized by the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, and the Shillong Press Club.

Meghalaya Minister for Revenue & Disaster Management, Kyrmen Shylla in his inaugural address, said that media has a pivotal role in disseminating vital information to the public during disasters and post disasters. Stating that in the present era where social media has become a powerful tool of communication, it allows the media to stay updated and disseminate information of the concerned areas which are affected during disasters thereby enabling the masses to have firsthand information about the situation.

The Minister hoped that the training programme will go a long way in sensitizing the media in disaster risk reduction and will further add to the capacity building of the media thus enabling them to response more effectively during and after the disaster.

Others who spoke during the inaugural programme include I. Mawlong, Executive Director, Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority, R. Nongkhlaw, Deputy Director, Directorate of Information & Public Relations, S. Bordoloi, Consultant SDMA, Snehasis Sur, Senior Journalist and President, Kolkata Press Club and David Laitphlang, President, Shillong Press Club.

Snehasis Sur was the Resource Person and delivered a lecture on “Disaster Management, Disaster Reporting and Crisis Communication”, which was followed by open forum, brainstorming and idea generation.